No. 70: North Texas Mean Green

Spring Practice Starts: February 21Spring Game: March 30

North Texas Mean Green Spring Status

The program went from going to a bowl on a technicality – and losing it – in 2016, to going to a bowl – and losing it – in 2017, but was four wins better and got to the Conference USA title game along the way.

And now it’s up to head man Seth Littrell’s up-tempo style to do even more to get past the Marshall, WKUs, and Florida Atlantics of the Conference USA world. And it might just be good enough to do it.

QB Mason Fine is the star of the show, and he’s got a loaded receiving corps in place to make the passing attack blow up again. The running backs are there, and four starters return to the line.

Defensively, two starters are done up front in the 3-3-5 alignment, and just one star – safety Kishawn McClain – is finished from the secondary.

North Texas Biggest Depth Chart Battle

Placekicker. There are a few position battles, but it’s a team loaded with experience and the talent to come back almost full. However, Trevor Moore is a big loss after nailing 20-of-22 field goals and all 55 of his extra points – and didn’t miss one over his four years. Arkansas transfer Cole Hedlund had better be good enough, especially in the clutch like Moore was.

North Texas Biggest Issue

The offensive line has to keep defenses out of the backfield. As good as the North Texas O was, it struggled against just about everyone’s defensive front. The Mean Green allowed a whopping 96 tackles for loss and 39 sacks. It was a bit of an improvement from 2016, but fix this glitch, and the offense should be even more explosive.

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North Texas Biggest Positive

The passing game. The young receiving corps of last year – with the top three targets all sophomores – and five of the top six underclassmen, there’s a lot to get excited about. The Mean Green came up with over 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns, with Mason Fine throwing for nearly all of that.

Really, Why Are The North Texas Mean Green Ranked Here?

Everything is in place to be among the true players in the Conference USA chase. The lines have to be stronger, and the kicking game has to be tight, but the offense should be terrific and the defense just strong enough to hold its own.